Applicants for U.S. Visa Do NOT Need to Leave Passport

APS Meeting with State Department
There have been many reported instances of physicists applying for a U.S. visa and being unable to travel for long periods because their passport is retained at the U.S. Consular Office while their visa application is processed.

Amy Flatten, Director of International Affairs for APS, met with Tony Edson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services of the U.S. State Department, to discuss this problem. Mr. Edson clarified State Department visa application procedures.

U.S. State Department Application Procedures

Consular Officers do not need to retain an applicant’s passport

Applicants should feel free to ask for their passport instead of leaving it with the Consular Officer

Requesting one’s passport will not delay visa processing

Any delay would only involve the applicant transporting the passport back to the Consular Office (in person, via courier, etc.) to have the visa inserted

APS - State Department Email Exchange
Mr. Edson emphasized that an email exchange between him and Flatten to clarify these policies could be posted on the APS website. Applicants for a U.S. visa may find it useful to bring a copy of the exchange with them to their visa interview. In addition, Edson indicated that he would take steps to ensure Consular Officers were aware of these policies.

>>> "Edson, Tony A" <*****@state.gov> 10/25/2006 11:08 AM >>>

Amy:

Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight on this issue. Of course a passport must be submitted at the time of visa application, and we will in many cases retain the passport for the duration of processing just so that when any required clearances are completed we are prepared to immediately visa and return the passport to the applicant. This is not necessary, however, and travelers should feel free to ask for their passports back if their case is deferred for additional processing. The only, relatively minor inconvenience, will be the for applicants to return their passports to the consular section once they are cleared so that the visa can be issued. No traveler should ever have to defer or miss travel because we are holding their passport for visa issuance. Please ask your members to just ask.

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you last week. As I mentioned during our meeting, many members of the international physics community would appreciate clarification regarding the need to leave one's passport with the Consular Officer when applying for a visa to travel to the United States.

As Director of International Affairs for the American Physical Society, an organization representing over 45,000 physicists worldwide, I am hearing of many instances where physicists are unable to travel for long periods, since their passport is retained at the U.S. Consular Office while their visa application is processed.

As physics is an international endeavor, physicists must travel extensively to attend conferences and participate in ongoing collaborations with colleagues across the globe. Any extended period without a passport will create a professional hardship for most physicists. Consequently, your insights and guidance regarding this concern would be most appreciated.